Treasure of the Baltic Sea: Hessian Selters bottles discovered in the wreck

Treasure of the Baltic Sea: Hessian Selters bottles discovered in the wreck

In the Baltic Sea, a remarkable treasure has been discovered that attracts attention not only because of his age, but also because of the cultural connections. A team of Polish divers has found the wreck of a sailing ship from the 19th century, which carried amazing freight - including Selters and champagne, which can be traced back to Hesse.

The discovery of the centuries -old wreck

The 16 -meter -long sailing ship was discovered at a depth of 58 meters, about 20 nautical miles south of the Swedish island of Öland. The BalticTech divers initially assumed that they had an inconspicuous fishing vehicle in front of them. In a second dive in mid -July 2024, however, they found more than 100 champagne bottles and baskets with mineral water in clay bottles.

hidden treasures from Hessen

The Selters bottles bring particularly interesting cultural heritage into the discussion. The first evaluations of the underwater photos have shown that the bottles come from the German company Selters. Historical documents and the stamp on the bottles suggest that the mineral water was filled between 1850 and 1876. This correlates in time with the alleged fall of the ship.

champagne and overload - a dangerous game

In addition to the domestic Selters bottles, champagne bottles were discovered, the Korchrabschrift of which indicates the renowned French company Louis Roederer. Experts interpret the composition of the freight as a potential overloading of the ship, which may have led to its downfall. The ship was on the way from Copenhagen to Stockholm and could have dropped by a storm or a collision. Signs of damage to the bow of the wreck support this theory.

an important find for underwater archeology

The find not only has legal, but also historical relevance. BalticTech has informed the Swedish University of Södertörn and the administration of the province of Kalmar about the find. Both institutions specialize in underwater archeology and will carry out a detailed examination of the wreck. This work could provide important information about trade routes and living conditions in the 19th century.

conclusion - hidden stories of the Baltic Sea

The discovery of this old ship and its freight underlines the diverse cultural connections in the Baltic Sea area and arouses interest in the history of trade and traffic in earlier times. The objects that are recovered from the water tell stories that deserve to be researched and preserved.

The find could also serve as an encouragement for future research in underwater archeology, which not only contributes to the preservation of maritime history, but also conveys valuable knowledge of the past.

- Nag